Road sign



p'i @s @43g R. W. sTAcEY ET AL 2,315,878

ROAD SIGN Filed June 9, 1941 4 -sheets-sheet 1 Attorney April 5, 1943- R.: w. sTAcEY4 ET A1. 2,315,878

ROAD SIGN Filed June 9, 1941 4 sheets-smet 2 A ttorney Inventor April 6, 1943 R. w. s'rAcL-:Y ET AL 2,315,878

ROAD SIGN Filed June 9, 1941 4 sheds-sheet s Inventar Attorney April, 1943- R. WfsTAcEYy ET AL 2,315,878

ROAD SIGN Filed June 9, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor Attorney Patented Apr. 6, 1943 ROAD SIGN Raymond W. Stacey andTheodore M. Blomquist,

Menlo Park, Calif. Application June 9, 1941, 'Serial No. 397,316

A (Cl. 40-86) 2 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to signs, and more particularly to a sign particularly designed for use on roadways to give to persons using such roadways certain information, such as Slide ahead; One-way road; Detour and the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sign of this character which is collapsible so as to be readily stored when not in iuse and which. when collapsed, is of such a compact form as to be readily carried or transported about to the end that such a sign may be ever handy for use in an emergency.

Further in accordance with the present invention the sign embodies a shiftable web on which a number of signs or legends may be printed or otherwise formed to be selectively brought into position as will best suit the purpose for which the sign is being then used.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the sign set up for use.

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the sign set up for use.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional `View of the sign taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional in completely folded condition.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of the sign set up for use, with certain parts shown in elevation,

view of the sign and other parts broken away and shown in :l

section.

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line I-S of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through a corner portion of the sign and showing the manner of supporting one end of a roller.

Figure 8 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 7 and showing the manner of supporting the opposite end of the roller.

Figure 9 is a perspective view plate.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper portion of a removable end frame member.

of a bearing Figure 11 is a perspective view of the body of a roller forming part of the invention.

Referring more in detail to the drawings it will be seen that in accordance with the present invention there is provided a frame indicated generally by the reference numeral 5.

The frame 5 comprises upper and lower tubular members 6 and 'I and vertical end members 8 and 9 that are channel-shaped in cross-section.

The members 8 and 9 are provided in the upper and lower ends thereof with apertures III to accommodate screws or other fastening elements I I through the medium of which the ends of the members 6 and 'l are secured within the ends of the members 8 and 9, thus forming a substantially rectangular frame as shown.

The members 6 and 'I form housings accommodating rollers I2 and I3.

Each of the rollers I2, I3 is adapted to have wound thereon one end of a web or sign strip I4, and which strip is trained through slots I5 pro vided therefor in the frame members 6 and I, as shown to advantage in Figure 4.

Also, each roller I3 is mounted Within its respective frame members 6, 1, and for rotative movement, through thermedium cf a pintle I6 that has a threaded tapered shank I'I threaded axially into one end of the body I8 of the roller, and a kerf-equipped head that is accommodated in the aperture provided therefor in a flanged bearing plate I9 secured in one end of the frame member, as shown in Figure 8.

At the opposite end thereof each roller has the body I8 thereof supported through the medium of a substantially tubular pinion 2D forced into an axial socket provided in said end of the body I8 and having an end accommodated in an opening provided therefor in a bearing plate 2I secured in the frame member as shown in Figure E.

The pinion 28 is secured in position on the body I8 of the roller through the medium of a screw 22 and is provided on its outer end with an integral ratchet wheel 23 with which is engageable a dog 24 secured on the bearing plate 2| to prevent retrograde movement of the roller body.

The pinion 20 of each roller is also provided with a bore 25 of polygonal cross section to accommodate a suitable key or other instrument for use in rotating the roller in a proper direction to bring a selected portion of the strip I4 into view. To this end, the adjacent endmember 9 is provided with openings 26 that align with the bores of the Figure 'i'.

The respective opposite ends of are secured to the bodies I8 rollers by having such ends positioned in longitudinal grooves 2 provided in the bodies I8 of the rollers and secured therein through the pinion 20, as shown in the strip I4 of the respective medium of wedge or binding strips 29, as shown to advantage in Figure 4.

A supporting board or plate 30 for the strip I4 is secured within the confines of the frame 5 and is provided with a marginal flange 3| through the medium of Which, and suitable fastening elements, the board 30 is secured in the frame.

The board 30, with its marginal flange 3|, also provides for the sign a pocket into which is readily foldable a supporting structure for the sign.

The referred to supporting structure comprises a base 32 of skeleton frame structure and provided with feet 33; preferably three feet 33 being employed, and the feet being arranged in triangular formation so as to give a threepoint Contact for uneven surfaces to the end that if the sign should tip sidewise the rear corners of the frame will retard the tipping, thereby supporting the weak side of the base frame.

Pivoted to opposite sides of the base frame 32, as at 34, are supporting standards S5 for the frame 5.

The standards 35 have enlarged ends 35a pivoted to opposite flanges of the backing or supporting plate 30, as at 36, so as to readily fold into the pocket provided by said flanged backing plate 30.

Also at the enlarged ends 35a thereof, the standards 35 are provided with abutment shoulders 31 against which the rear side of the bottom frame member 1 abuts when the device is in extended position for use as shown in Figure 3, whereby to hold the frame 5 in vertical or perpendicular position.

The standards 35 are braced with respect to the frame 32 through the medium of brace rods 38, and the frame 5 is braced with respect to the standards 35 through the medium of pivoted brace rods 39, as clearlyshown.

Printed, or otherwise formed on the web i4 are such warning legends as Slide ahead, Oneway road, Detour and the like, and as suggested in Figure 1 and indicated by the reference numeral 40.

Also, each area or section of the strip bearing such a legendary warning is also equipped with an identifying numeral as shown in Figure l and indicated by the reference numeral 4i.

To assist the operator in bringing the desired section of the strip into position for view, there is mounted on one of the frame members, for example the frame member 8, a plate 42 on which are printed or otherwise formed legends 40a corresponding to the legends on the strip I4, with a corresponding identifying numeral Ma opposite thereto.

Thus, when desired to bring a certain legend 4B to View, the operator, by rst glancing at the plate 42, will readily determine the direction in which the rollers I2 and I3 are to be rotated in order to quickly bring the selected section of the web, and the desired warning legend into View.

It will be apparent that when set up for use a rigid sign structure is provided; while, when it is desired to store the frame, the standards 35 and braces 38 therefor will readily fold relative to one another and to the frame 32, and the folded elements then readily folded into the pocket formed at the rear of the sign by the anged backing plate 30.

In Figures 1 and 3, the sign is shown set up for use, and in Figure 4, the sign is shown folded for storage and/or transportation purposes.

It is believed that the many advantages of a sign embodying the features of the present invention will be had by those skilled in the art without further detailed description thereof.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. In a road sign of the character described, a frame adapted for mounting'a double reel and web therein, a supporting base, standards pivoted at one end thereof to the base and at an opposite end thereof to said frame and provided at the last-named end with abutment shoulders against which an adjacent end of said frame abuts when the sign is set up for use, and brace members pivotally connected to said base and said standards.

2. In a road sign of the character described, a frame adapted for mounting a double reel and web therein, a supporting base, standards pivoted at one end thereof to the base and at an opposite end thereof to said frame and provided at the last-named end with abutment shoulders against which an adjacent end of said frame abuts when the sign is set up for use, and brace members pivotally connected to said base and said standards, additional brace members pivotally connected with said standards and said frame, said base member, standards and brace members bev ing foldable into a position within the confines of said frame.

THEODORE M. BLOMQUIST. RAYMOND STACEY. 

